Which Toner is Right for You?

What are toners?  What do they do?  Are they really just a waste of money?  As you can imagine, I get these questions a lot.  I first wrote about toners almost two years ago here and now, more than ever, I am a big believer in toners/mists/hydrosols.  Not only do they prep and  moisturize skin, they restore pH balance and make the products you follow up with even more effective.  I don’t need to use as much face oil or moisturizer when I prep with a toner; the product moves around my face more easily and absorbs more evenly.  I also use a mist to set or refresh my makeup and I even spray my Beauty Blender with it before applying makeup rather than just soaking it in water.  Read on for some toners – it was hard to name just a few – that I’ve loved over the years.  If you are just starting venture into toner territory, don’t be afraid you will choose the wrong one.  Virtually all Clean toners are suitable for all skin types.  Unless you have extremely sensitive skin, you truly cannot go wrong.

May Lindstrom Skin The Jasmine Garden Botanical Mist contains colloidal silver, an antibacterial agent, which makes it perfect for those who have acne-prone skin.  This toner also smells like a dream: the jasmine, rose and ylang-ylang are totally addictive and you’ll want to spray yourself constantly.  Cost: $60 for 3.38 oz.

One Love Organics Vitamin D Moisture Mist quenches dry skin with a patented, time-release delivery system while Vitamin D from Shitake mushroom soothes skin and provides antibacterial protection.  Cost: $39 for 2 oz.

Dr. Alkaitis Organic Herbal Toner is the perfect elixir for sensitive or inflamed skin.  More of a gel consistency, this organic “skin food” (yes, you can eat it) can be used as a moisturizer for those with more oily or blemish-prone skin.  Cost: $55 for 4 oz.

Acure Organics Facial Toner with Rose and Red Tea zaps excess oil and shine without stripping skin.  This balancing toner is the perfect place to start if you are young or just making the switch to Green skincare.  Did I mention that Acure is now sold at Target?!  Cost: $13 for 2 oz.

Tata Harper Hydrating Floral Essence is great for aging skin.  Bioidentical Hyaluronic Acid literally draws moisture into the skin and creates a more plump appearance.  This is one of the first Green toners I tried and I still love it.  Cost: $85 for 4.1 oz.

I’ve loved all these toners even though some of them weren’t “targeted” for my skin type, so don’t be afraid to experiment!

Do you have a favorite Green toner?  Tell us about it!

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